Print, Voice, and Ephemera: Empowerment through Garment Construction with Anna Miller

An open conversation about how voice can be activated through print, ephemera, and garment construction. Using photography, silkscreening, dying and more to convey the context of our oppressions.

Discussion prompt examples: Do you know your history of oppression and collected ephemera from those times? What kind of ephemera are you making now? How would that dynamic change if you were printing on fabric? Could you engage it with the body? 

Dates (2nd Sundays): February 9, March 9 and April 13, all dates at 6 pm Eastern time (convert timezone)

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Dimensionality and Fiber Sculpture with Jacqueline Mallegni

Transforming materials into three-dimensional forms offers a unique approach to art-making that bridges the gap between tangible and intangible. We will discuss how materials can interact with light and space, creating dynamic installations. The essence of fiber art lies in its transformation; through our hands, we can shape and reimagine raw fibers into meaningful three-dimensional expressions. This exploration promises to foster creativity and deepen our understanding of materiality in art.

Discussion prompt example: How do you imagine dimensionality in your art practice?

Dates (3 consecutive Mondays): February 3, 10 and 17, all dates at 10 am Eastern time (convert timezone)

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Atypical Textiles: A Look at Interdisciplinary Approaches to Textiles with Jessie McClanahan

In this meetup, we will look at the various ways textiles, or process in textiles, can be used as a framework for interdisciplinary art. What if we grow plants and fungi through our work, sew with materials other than thread, or grow our own fabric? The sky’s the limit for this meetup.

Discussion prompt examples: What does interdisciplinary work look like to you? Is it a mix of process and materials, maybe mixing science and art together? 

Dates (3 consecutive Mondays): February 24, March 3 and 10, all dates at 7 pm Eastern time (convert timezone)

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Working with Fabric and Paper with Ana Tièche

Together, we will talk about combining fibers such as fabric, thread, and paper to create works of fiber art. The possibilities include collages, vessels, sculptural pieces and others. 

Discussion prompt examples: In which ways, have you tried combining fabric with other fiber materials? If you have never done this, what possibilities do you see?

Dates (4th Mondays): February 24, March 24, and April 28, all dates at 10 am Eastern time (convert timezone)

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Artist Residency at Home: An Intersection of Everyday Life and Artistic Practice with Christy Strickler

How does our daily life and surroundings influence our creativity? By examining our environment and creative process, we can develop a framework for personal artistic growth. This meetup will help you to identify specific areas of your artistic practice that can be expanded and developed as you create a flexible and sustainable home studio practice. We will explore how creative spaces affect workflow, analyze our creative processes, set goals, and determine the parameters by which we measure our own success.

Discussion prompt example: How does your creative space affect your workflow? Participants are invited to share their creative spaces with the group.

Dates (3rd Tuesdays): February 18, March 18 and April 15, all dates at 8 am Eastern time (convert timezone)

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Transitory Threads with Bethany Cordero

Transitory Threads is a meetup designed to explore the intersections of identity, memory, and fiber arts – inviting participants to delve into personal markers of selfhood through creative discussions and material explorations. Together, we will reflect on the resonant memories and stories that shape us, using textiles as our bridge to connect us with our deeper selves and one another. This gathering offers a space for fiber enthusiasts to share ideas, inspiration, and creative processes in a supportive and like-minded community.

Discussion prompt example: Think about a specific textile or fabric that holds meaning for you – whether it’s inherited, handmade, or simply something you’ve lived with. What memories or emotions does it evoke, and how do those experiences relate to your current artistic practice?

Dates (1st Tuesdays): February 4, March 4, and April 1, all dates at 11 am Eastern time (convert timezone)

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Untraditional Non-art Quilts: Working with Layers with Faith Hagenhofer

If you work with art quilts or/and create textiles that are layered in meaning, technique, fabrication; if your work has elements like these but gets more 3D; if you work with story layers, then let’s all talk together. Let’s have a conversation about the research and possibly the sources for work where you find information and inspiration. We’ll explore what you can visually achieve with your technical layering choices.

Discussion prompt example: When you decided to join this meetup, which of your own pieces came to mind?

Dates (1st Tuesdays): February 4, March 4, and April 1, all dates at 7 pm Eastern time (convert timezone)

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Digital Surface Pattern Design with Mariam Oladepo Ajagbe

Surface pattern design is an interesting and important part of textile art and design that is not often discussed. This meetup will explore gathering motifs, assembling elements, choosing color palettes, and telling stories with art and design. Participants are encouraged to have Adobe Photoshop installed.

Discussion prompt example: What story would you like your fabric to tell?

Dates (2nd Tuesdays): February 11, March 11 and April 8, all dates at 8 pm Eastern time (convert timezone

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Power in Materiality: Invented Textiles with Suzanne Morlock

Each session will begin with a short video of an established artist to serve as our prompt as we consider the role materiality plays in our work. First session on Nick Cave, second session on El Anatsui, and third session on Sheila Hicks. Bring your narrative and how it’s woven into your invented textiles.

Discussion prompt examples: How does your textile invention emerge? What are the underpinnings of materials, histories, and inspirations that inform your narration?

Dates (3rd Tuesdays): February 18, March 18 and April 15, all dates at 8 pm Eastern time (convert timezone)

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Creating with Fibers with Felicia L. Reed

This meetup will be focused primarily toward those who create with repurposed fibers. We will discuss the different techniques and purposes for our works, plus share useful tips and resources. Each participant is invited to share their creations.

Discussion prompt example: What are you currently working on and where did you obtain the materials?

Dates (4th Tuesdays): February 25, March 25 and April 22, all dates at 7 pm Eastern time (convert timezone)

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Circles and Cycles, Moons and Mandalas: Working in a Series with Valerie Doran Bashaw

You created one piece, what’s next? Are you ready to start something new? Have you worked in a series?  What are the pros and cons of developing your work in this manner?

Discussion prompt example: Why are you interested in working in a series? What can you learn? What might the pieces have in common, are you telling a story?

Dates (1st Tuesdays): March 4, April 1 and May 6, all dates at 2 pm Eastern time (convert timezone)

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Engaging with Regenerative Practice: Material, Process, Theme with Lesley Roberts

Curious about exploring regenerative practice within your body of work? In this interactive meetup, we will look at artists who address environmental and sustainable issues in their work as a provocation to explore material choices, processes, and themes. How can we use our work to process the complex emotions that arise? How can we make better choices about material usage? Is our way of making true to the messages we’re sending? How can artists contribute to a deeper and richer understanding of regenerative practice?

Discussion prompt examples: Does regenerative (sustainable) material-process have a place in your practice? Does the artist have a responsibility to tackle environmental issues in her/his/their work? How can this meetup best serve you – are you looking for specific tools/materials/processes that are more enviro-friendly, fellowship around thematic explorations, or write-ups for gallery submissions, and the like?

Dates (2nd Wednesdays): February 12, March 12 and April 9, all dates at 12 pm Eastern time (convert timezone)

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Fiber and Social Repair: Practice and Metaphor with Kristin Tollefson

Embedded within the long tradition of fiber work is a commitment to repair. Techniques including mending, binding, stitching, and weaving have strong connotations both within textile practices, and as transferable skills for social repair. Together, we will pull the thread – exploring the ways fiber arts, nonviolent communication, social justice, and community building are interwoven.

Discussion prompt examples: What experience(s) have you had (or are you having) in your studio practice that might offer a template or model for community engagement? How does your practice (or someone else’s) model opportunities for social healing?

Dates (2nd Wednesdays): February 12, March 12 and April 9, all dates at 7 pm Eastern time (convert timezone)

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Let’s Talk Process with Sandra Golbert

What new or unexpected inventions have solved long-standing problems in your studio? Together, we will explore the vast tools, methods, and materials that textile artists are using to create their work. This collaborative session will challenge us to consider our preconceived notions about our own way of working, and encourage openness to new possibilities.

Discussion prompt example: What textile do you use most in your work, and how do you use it?

Dates (2nd Thursdays): February 13, March 13 and April 10, all dates at 2 pm Eastern time (convert timezone)

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Marketing & Selling What You Make with Andrea G. Snyder

As artists, we easily share techniques, materials, and philosophical considerations, but where is the best place for us to actually advertise and sell our work? We’ll discuss deciding who we should be approaching and how we get the attention of potential clients.

Discussion prompt example: Do you know your brand?

Dates (3rd Thursdays): February 20, March 20 and April 17, all dates at 1 pm Eastern time (convert timezone)

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The Journey of Natural Bio-colourants onto Textiles with Prachi Mehrotra

Natural bio-colourants come from nature and are all around us from the flora, fauna, soil, minerals, and even microbes. In this meetup, we’ll learn, compare, and document the narratives and experiences of artists dyeing, printing, painting, and exploring with natural, sustainable colourants onto textiles.

Their natural colourants offer amazing possibilities and potential. Our discussions will provide interesting insights for seasoned and novice practitioners, colour artists, textile consultants, and designers to create eco-friendly works.

Discussion prompt examples: What information are you looking for about natural bio-colourants? Which types of natural bio-colourants have you used before on textiles? Which type (or types) of natural bio-colourants do you want to try out, and why? What traditional or contemporary methods have you engaged with?

Dates (4th Fridays): February 28, March 28 and April 25, all dates at 10:30 am Eastern time (convert timezone)

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